Rafa: ‘It’s hard to surprise Saints Boss’
Rafa Benitez admits he must try to spring a surprise on Mauricio Pellegrino when Newcastle United visit Southampton today.
That’s because Pellegrino knows Toon boss Benitez so well after playing under him with Valencia and Liverpool, and being on his backroom staff at Anfield and Inter Milan.
Benitez said: “It’s strange, especially with Mauricio, as he played for me and he was also my assistant.
“Now he is on the other side and we will be wondering what each other is thinking, so it will be interesting.
“We will try to surprise him, but the problem is that when you have been the manager and he was your assistant, he knows what you’re thinking.’’
Benitez has backed the former Argentina defender to meet Southampton’s demanding standards.
The Saints turned to Pellegrino in the summer after sacking Claude Puel – even though the Frenchman led them to an eighth-place Premier League finish and the EFL Cup final in his only season in charge.
Benitez insisted: “In terms of character and spirit, I think he can cope. It always depends on results, but you can see they’re a team that are well-organised.’’
Benitez has been happy to pass on advice to Pellegrino because he knows the value of learning from more experienced bosses – among them Sir Alex Ferguson and Tony Pulis.
The Magpies’ boss said: “We have managers from Spain and America coming to see us in the next few months because I was doing that when I was a young manager, travelling the world to watch the way things were done in different countries.
“I went to Italy and the first manager I followed was Arrigo Sacchi. I had a good relationship with him. Then I had three days at Fiorentina and Valencia when Claudio Ranieri was there.
“I also watched Fabio Capello at this time. I have been to America, around the world and in Spain, obviously, with Vicente Del Bosque – I was his assistant.
“I like to see different people, different approaches. I came here to see Alex Ferguson for one week.
“I watched Tony Pulis, who is my friend. I was watching him for a couple of days when he was at Stoke. I was in between jobs at the time.’’
Meanwhile, Benitez says Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles – recently involved in a training- ground punch-up with Mo Diame – first showed his captaincy potential in a 3-1 defeat at Southampton two seasons ago.
Lascelles issued a half-time tongue-lashing to more senior teammates, and Benitez said: “With what was going on, you could see his potential, but you have to analyse your squad and see who can grow into a leader – and he was maybe the best option.’’